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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Amy Harris is just fourteen when the world as she knew it came to an end. It was a Saturday and she was alone in the house - her mom was at work and her dad had gone out. Something attacked - strange and monstrous creatures that killed everything and everyone they came across. Amy was safe thanks the electric fence her mother insisted upon and the solar panels her father installed. She had electricity and water, food and supplies, and learned to fend for herself by only going out at night and staying as quiet as possible. And alone is how she stayed until she came across "Baby" a toddler who somehow managed to survive amongst the creatures they'd come to know as Floraes. Together, Amy and Baby are able to survive in their own created sanctuary but when their home comes under attack from other humans, salvation arrives in a surprising and unexpected way.

The first half of the book is very straightforward narrative. Lunetta does something quite interesting with the second part of the book, though, alternating between flashbacks and the present where Amy is in a bit of a predicament without being entirely clear as to how she got there. It's something that she figures out and is revealed to the reader through the flashback portions.

The particular "humanity's downfall" premise here is one that I really, really enjoyed. Especially as we get further into the story. Lunetta throws in more than one twist here, some were expected while others managed to catch me off guard. I'm definitely hoping there will be a follow up and will be looking forward to it with great anticipation.

In the After hits shelves June 25 and is going down as one of my summer favorites!